Card-delivering device for a shuffling machine

ABSTRACT

A card-delivering device for a shuffling machine has a frame, at least one drawing roller group, a drawing transmission, an actuating roller group and an actuating transmission. The frame has a pivoting panel with a magnet. The drawing roller group is mounted in the frame near the output end. The drawing transmission drives the drawing roller group. The actuating roller group has a magnetic roller corresponding to the magnet. The actuating transmission drives the actuating roller group. When the magnetic roller is rotated, the magnetic roller alternatively attracts or repulses the magnet to cause the pivoting panel to pivot. Therefore, cards pass between the magnetic roller and the pivoting panel in order when a gap between the magnetic roller and the pivoting panel is formed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates a card-delivering device, especially to a card-delivering device for a shuffling machine to deliver cards smoothly.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Shuffling machines are widely used in casinos. With reference to FIG. 8, a shuffling machine comprises a shuffler (70), a card input (80) and a card output (90). The shuffler (70) is connected between the card input (80) and the card output (90). Cards are put into the card input (80). The card input (80) delivers the card to the shuffler (70). The shuffler (70) has a controller to drive the shuffler (70) to rotate in a random direction so that the cards are mixed. Then the cards are output from the card output (90).

With further reference to FIG. 9, the card input (80) comprises a frame (81), multiple roller groups (82), a gear group (83) and a slide (84). The frame (81) is connected with the shuffler (70) and has a channel (811). The roller groups (82) are mounted in the frame (81). The gear group (83) is connected to and drives the roller groups (82). The slide (84) slides along the channel (84) and selectively pushes cards to pass through the roller group (82) into the shuffler (70).

However, the slide (84) cannot sift cards one by one and pushes multiple cards in the frame (81) to move toward the roller groups (82). Then more than one card may pass through the roller groups (82) to be delivered into one card slot of the shuffler (70). Therefore, the cards may not be output one by one. Such disordered card output may nullify a card game and cause casinos to lose reputation and customers.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a card-delivering device for a shuffling machine to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a card-delivering device for a shuffling machine that precisely delivers cards passing through in order. The card-delivering device has a frame, at least one drawing roller group, a drawing transmission, an actuating roller group and an actuating transmission. The frame has a pivoting panel with a magnet. The drawing roller group is mounted in the frame near the output end. The drawing transmission drives the drawing roller group. The actuating roller group has a magnetic roller corresponding to the magnet. The actuating transmission drives the actuating roller group. When the magnetic roller is rotated, the magnetic roller alternatively attracts or repulses the magnet to cause the pivoting panel to pivot. Therefore, cards pass between the magnetic roller and the pivoting panel in order when a gap between the magnetic roller and the pivoting panel is formed.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card-delivering device for a shuffling machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the card-delivering device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a card-delivering device for a shuffling machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the card-delivering device in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view in partial section of a shuffling machine showing the embodiments of the card-delivering device in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shuffling machine in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an operational side view in partial section of the shuffling machine in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view in partial section of a shuffling machine with a conventional card input in accordance with the prior art; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the conventional card input in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a card-delivering device for a shuffling machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a frame (10, 10A), at least one drawing roller group (20, 20A), a drawing transmission (30, 30A), an actuating roller group (40, 40A) and an actuating transmission (50, 50A).

With further reference to FIG. 5, the frame (10, 10A) has an input end (11, 11A), an output end (12, 12A), two side panels (13, 13A), a receiving panel (14, 14A), a pivoting panel (15, 15A) and at least one magnet (16, 16A). The receiving panel (14, 14A) is mounted securely between the side panels (13, 13A) near the input end (11, 11A). The pivoting panel (15, 15A) is mounted pivotally between the side panels (13, 13A) near the input end (11, 11A), is mounted above and selectively abuts the receiving panel (14, 14A) and has an abutting end (151, 151A). The magnet (16, 16A) is mounted in the pivoting panel (15, 15A) near the abutting end (151, 151A).

The at least one drawing roller group (20, 20A) is mounted in the frame (10, 10A). Each drawing roller group (20, 20A) has a top roller assembly (21, 21A), a bottom roller assembly (22, 22A) and a gap (23, 23A). The top roller assembly (21, 21A) is mounted rotatably between the side panels (13, 13A) near the output end (12, 12A). The bottom roller assembly (22, 22A) is mounted rotatably between the side panels (13, 13A) near the output end (12, 12A) and is mounted adjacent to the top roller assembly (21, 21A). The gap (23, 23A) is formed between the top and the bottom roller assemblies (21, 21A, 22, 22A), aligns with the receiving panel (14, 14A) and allows one card to pass through.

The drawing transmission (30, 30A) is connected to and drives the at least one drawing roller group (20, 20A) and has a motor (31, 31A), a drive gear (32, 32A) and a driven gear set (33, 33A). The motor (31, 31A) is mounted in the frame (10, 10A), may be attached securely to one side panel (13, 13A) and has a driving shaft (311, 311A). The drive gear (32, 32A) is connected to and is driven by the driving shaft (311, 311A). The driven gear set (33, 33A) is driven by the drive gear (32, 32A), is connected to and drives the at least one drawing roller group (20, 20A) and has at least one driven gear (331, 331A). Each driven gear (331, 331A) is driven by the drive gear (32, 32A) and is connected to and drives a corresponding drawing roller group (20, 20A).

In one preferred embodiment, each driven gear (331) engages the drive gear (32). The driven gear (331) is connected to and drives the bottom roller assembly (22) of the corresponding drawing roller group (20)

In another preferred embodiment, a transmitting gear (332A) engages and is connected between the driven gear (331A) and the drive gear (32A) so that the drive gear (32A) drives the driven gear (331A) through the transmitting gear (332A). The driven gear (331A) is connected to and drives the top roller assembly (21A) of the corresponding drawing roller group (20A).

The actuating roller group (40, 40A) is mounted in the frame (10, 10A) and has a central rod (41, 41A), a magnetic roller (42, 42A) and multiple auxiliary rollers (43, 43A). The central rod (41, 41A) is mounted rotatably between the side panels (13, 13A) near the input end (11, 11A). The magnetic roller (42, 42A) is mounted securely around the central rod (41, 41A) and corresponds to and alternatively attracts or repulses the magnet (16, 16A). The auxiliary rollers (43, 43A) are mounted securely around the central rod (41, 41A).

The actuating transmission (50, 50A) is connected to and drives the actuating roller group (40, 40A) and has a motor (51, 51A), a drive gear (52, 52A) and a driven gear (53, 53A). The motor (51, 51A) is mounted in the frame (10, 10A), may be attached securely to one side panel (13, 13A) and has a driving shaft (511, 511A). The drive gear (52, 52A) is connected to and is driven by the driving shaft (511, 511A). The driven gear (53, 53A) engages the drive gear (52, 52A) and is connected to and drives the central rod (41, 41A) of the actuating roller group (40, 40A). When the actuating transmission (50, 50A) drives the central rod (41, 41A) of the actuating roller group (40, 40A) to rotate, the magnetic roller (42, 42A) is rotated to selectively attract or repulse the magnet (16, 16A) and the pivoting panel (15, 15A) is pivoted by the attraction or the repulsion.

With further reference to FIG. 6, the card-delivering device for a shuffling machine as described may be implemented as a card input (100) or a card output (100A) and is connected to a shuffler (60).

With reference to FIG. 5, the magnetic roller (42, 42A) attracts the magnet (16, 16A) so that no gap is formed between the magnetic roller (42, 42A) and the pivoting panel (15, 15A). Therefore, cards being placed on the pivoting panel (15, 15A) are stopped before the magnetic roller (42, 42A).

With further reference to FIG. 7, the magnetic roller (42, 42A) repulses the magnet (16, 16A) so that a gap is formed between the magnetic roller (42, 42A) and the pivoting panel (15, 15A) to allow one card to pass through. Therefore, one card being stopped before the magnetic roller (42, 42A) drops on the receiving panel (14, 14A) and is delivered by the drawing roller group (20, 20A).

With the cooperation between the magnetic roller (42, 42A) and the magnet (16, 16A), the cards placed on the pivoting panel (15, 15A) are delivered one by one toward the drawing roller group (20, 20A). Therefore, the cards are delivered into the shuffler (60) one by one and are delivered out of the card output one by one.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A card-delivering device for a shuffling machine comprising: a frame having an input end; an output end; two side panels; a receiving panel being mounted securely between the side panels near the input end of the frame; a pivoting panel being mounted pivotally between the side panels near the input end of the frame, being mounted above and selectively abutting the receiving panel and having an abutting end; and at least one magnet being mounted in the pivoting panel near the abutting end; at least one drawing roller group being mounted in the frame; a drawing transmission being connected to and driving the at least one drawing roller group; an actuating roller group being mounted in the frame and having a central rod being mounted rotatably between the side panels near the input end of the frame; and a magnetic roller being mounted securely around the central rod and corresponding to and alternatively attracting or repulsing the magnet; and an actuating transmission being connected to and driving the actuating roller group.
 2. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating transmission has a motor being mounted in the frame and having a driving shaft; a drive gear being connected to and being driven by the driving shaft of the actuating transmission; and a driven gear engaging the drive gear of the actuating transmission and being connected to and driving the central rod of the actuating roller group.
 3. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the at least one drawing roller group has a top roller assembly being mounted rotatably between the side panels near the output end of the frame; a bottom roller assembly being mounted rotatably between the side panels near the output end of the frame and being mounted adjacent to the top roller assembly; and a gap being formed between the top and the bottom roller assemblies and aligning with the receiving panel.
 4. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each one of the at least one drawing roller group has a top roller assembly being mounted rotatably between the side panels near the output end of the frame; a bottom roller assembly being mounted rotatably between the side panels near the output end of the frame and being mounted adjacent to the top roller assembly; and a gap being formed between the top and the bottom roller assemblies and aligning with the receiving panel.
 5. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the drawing transmission has a motor being mounted in the frame and having a driving shaft; a drive gear being connected to and being driven by the driving shaft of the drawing transmission; and a driven gear set being driven by the drive gear of the drawing transmission, being connected to and driving the at least one drawing roller group and having at least one driven gear being driven by the drive gear of the drawing transmission and being connected to and driving a corresponding drawing roller group.
 6. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each one of the at least one driven gear of the drawing transmission engages the drive gear of the drawing transmission.
 7. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each one of the at least one driven gear of the drawing transmission is connected to and drives the bottom roller assembly of the corresponding drawing roller group.
 8. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a transmission gear engages and is connected between the at least one driven gear and the drive gear.
 9. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one driven gear is connected to and drives the top roller assembly of the corresponding drawing roller group.
 10. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating roller group has multiple auxiliary rollers being mounted securely around the central rod.
 11. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuating roller group has multiple auxiliary rollers being mounted securely around the central rod.
 12. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the actuating roller group has multiple auxiliary rollers being mounted securely around the central rod.
 13. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the motor of the actuating transmission is attached securely to one side panel.
 14. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the motor of the drawing transmission is attached securely to one side panel; and the motor of the actuating transmission is attached securely to one side panel.
 15. The card-delivering device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the motor of the drawing transmission is attached securely to one side panel; and the motor of the actuating transmission is attached securely to one side panel. 